Hair curler with embedded brush means



Dec. 8, 1964 INVENTOR. GEORGE N051. 50/.

INGER BY WyW ATTURNEY United States Patent Q a $160,163 HAIR CURLER WITH EMBEDDED BRUSH MEANS George Noel Bolinger, Shelbyville, ill, assignor to Sta-Rite Ginnie Lou, Inc., Shelbyville, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed (let. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 232,820 9 Qlaims. (Cl. 132-41) This invention relates to a hair curler, and has particular reference to that type of hair curler commonly known as a brush roller.

It is the common practice in making brush rollers to form the roller of a rotatable brush surrounded by a coil spring and a meshed element arranged around the coiled spring, the latter two elements being of somewhat smaller diameter than the brush so that the bristles of the latter project outwardly therethrough to engage a strand of hair. The brush is moved downwardly along a strand of hair substantially to the end thereof, whereupon the roller is wound up to the scalp of the user and fixed in position either with a bail or with bobby pins or similar fasteners. Such brush rollers are highly efficient, but they can be quite uncomfortable in use, particularly at night time when pressure on the brush roller causes the bristles to contact the scalp under pressure.

It has been proposed to use soft spongy rollers which are quite comfortable in use, but which provide no brush means for assisting in brushing out a strand of hair to straighten it before it is wound on the roller. Moreover, a brush provides some frictional hold on the hair to facilitate the initial winding thereof, and a plain spongy roller therefore is somewhat difiicuit to use in properly straightening out the hairs of a strand for winding the strand on the roller.

In my copending application, Serial No. 202,211, filed June 13, 1962, I have shown a novel type of brush roller wherein a spongy roller body is employed provided with one or more longitudinal grooves in each of which is arranged a small-diameter brush, the axial wire body of which is fixed to end members to maintain it in position. Such a brush has the bristles thereof projecting slightly beyond the normal surface of the elastic roller so that it may engage a strand of hair to brush it and facilitate the starting of the rolling of the curl. Since most of the exposed portion of the roller is soft, any such portion may engage the head of the user so that the device is comfortable in use, particularly when sleeping.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of bru h roller having a peripheral groove carrying a small brush with bristles projecting slightly outwardly of the normal surface of the resilient roller to engage and brush the hair and to facilitate the initial winding of the curl and to provide a novel combination of elements which is highly simplified over prior constructions such as the one shown in my copending application referred to.

A further object is to provide such a brush roller wherein a resilient plastic roller is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves each of which terminates inwardly of the ends of the roller, and to mount in such groove a small brush extending longitudinally of the roller and having a wire-lilze axial body, the ends of which are protected by the ends of the groove to prevent their contacting with the fingers of the user while the device is being employed to roll a curl thereon, and to protect the scalp of the user when a curl is wound on the device.

A further object is to provide a curler of the type just referred to wherein an adhesive forms the only means for maintaining the brush in its groove.

A further object is to provide a curler of this type wherein the sponge-like plastic roller is slightly penetrable by the bristles oi the roller so that when an adhesive is 3,16%,lh3 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 applied in the groove, or to the bristles to be arranged in the groove, or both, the brush may be pressed downwardly into the groove with the lower bristles slightly penetrating the material of the roller, whereby when the adhesive has set the brush will be tightly and permanently fixed to the roller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing 1 have shown one embodiment of the invention. In tlL's showing FlGURE l is a plan view of the device;

FEGURE 2 is an axial sectional View on line 2-2 of FlGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FEGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a soft spongy plastic roller which may be formed of any of the Well-known materials now available in the field of plastics, such as polyurethane or cellular polyethylene. The roller is provided with an axial opening 11 therethrough as shown in FTGURE 2.

The periphery of the roller is provided with one or more longitudinal grooves. One of such grooves is sufficient, and only one has been shown in the drawing and indicated by the numeral 12. The ends 13 of this groove terminate in spaced relation to the ends of the roller for a purpose which will become apparent. In the groove 12 is arranged a brush unit indicated as a whole by the numeral 14. This brush is formed of a twisted wire axial body 15 binding with respect thereto bristles 16, which will be in spiral form as will be apparent, and as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The ends of the wire body preferably directly contact the ends 13 of the groove 12 as clearly shown in FIGURE 2. Thus the ends of the wire body are protected by the resilient material of the roller Hi. It will be particularly noted that the portion of the brush remote from the axis of the roller projects above the normal surface of the roller so as to engage a strand of hair to be wound on the roller.

The device is preferably but not necessarily employed in conjunction with a bail indicated as a whole by the numeral Zll. This bail is in the form of a rectangular frame having end cross members 21 and 22, the latter of which is engaged in the split end 23 of an axial rod 24 extending entirely through and beyond the ends of the opening 11. The bail further comprises parallel side arms 26, spaced from the roller Ill provide for the winding of hair on the roller, which hair may be engaged by the parallel arms 26 as will be apparent.

The engagement between the cross member 22 and the split end 23 of the rod 24 forms a pivotal connection between the latter member and the bail 20, the bail per so being conventional.

The cross member 21 carries the resilient finger 28 engageable in an end opening 29 in the rod 24. The bail 2b is formed of a plastic having an appreciable degree of elasticity, and obviously the finger 28 is sufilciently flexible to permit it to snap into and out of the opening 2?, such operation being facilitated by an integral finger piece 36.

Operation The groove 12 is cut, molded or otherwise formed in the roller and a brush unit has the wire body thereof cut to the length of the groove 12. Adhesive is then applied to the lower portion of the groove 12 throughout its length, or it may be applied to that portion of the brush which will lie in the groove 12, or the adhesive may be applied to both the groove and the brush. The brush is then placed in the groove and pressed radially inwardly with the bristles in the bottom of the groove preferably penetrating the material of the roller 10. Such slight penetration of the lower bristles is suggested in FIGURE 2. In the enlarged sectional view in FIGURE 4, two of bristles 16 which lie in the plane of section have been shown slightly penetrating the material of roller 14 Many excellent adhesives are available but it is not essential that there be any penetration of the roller by the bristles. This construction, however, is preferred and in practice it has been found that an extremely firm permanent bonding of the bristles with the roller takes place.

The assembly of the device, if the bail is used, as is preferred, takes place merely by extending the free end of the rod through the opening 11, the bail, of course, being opened for this operation. It will be noted that the bail is rotatable with respect to the. axis of the roller 10 and the arms 26 thus are adapted to occupy any diametrically opposite positions when the device is in use.

In the use of the device the bail may be wholly removed, or it may be opened and the rolling of the curler may take place about the axis of the rod 24. When a strand of hair has been separated from the remaining hair, the brush 14 is engaged therewith near the scalp, and with the roller 10 held against rotation, the device is moved downwardly nearly to the end of the strand of hair, the bristles 16 combing the hair so that the individual hairs lie approximately parallel to each other. The bristles 16 sufficiently penetrate the strand of hair to afford frictional engagement of the brush therewith to facilitate the initial winding of the strand of hair on the roller. In other words, the brush will hold the hair relative to the roller until the first complete turn thereof has been made, whereupon the roller is rotated into close proximity to the scalp to complete the winding of the curl.

In practically all instances, when the rolling of the curl has been completed, the brush 14 will be out of contact with the scalp, the resilient body 10 engaging the scalp and aifording complete comfort to the wearer when the device is in use. After each curl is completed, the rod 24 is inserted through the opening 11, while the roller 10 is held against reverse rotation, whereupon the bail is closed by snapping the finger 28 over the adjacent end of rod 24 and into the groove 29.

Since the bail may occupy a position with the parallel arms 26 in any diametrically opposite positions, these arms will not engage the scalp of the wearer. The parallel arms are spaced from the surface of the roller 10 to provide for the winding of the hair on the roller. The bail being formed of material possessing a substantial degree of resiliency, it will be apparent that the parallel rods 26 may flex outwardly to accommodate the thickness of the hair of the curl wound on the roller 10. The arms 26 thus frictionally engage the hair to prevent reverse rotation of the roller. If desired, bobby pins or similar devices may be employed, particularly where the strand of hair in curl form is not sufiiciently thick to be frictionally engaged by the arms 26, or if the bail is not used. The opening 11 is made sufficiently large to receive one arm of a hobby pin or other type of device, the other arm of the securing device extending over or through the strand of hair wound on the roller.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present device is extremely simple in construction and quick and easy to assemble. It is highly efiicient in operation and provides a high degree of comfort, which is very important, particularly when the device remains on the head of the user overnight.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made as do not 4, depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed of soft resilient material and provided in an outer surface portion thereof with a longitudinal groove having its ends terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, and a brush permanently fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to be applied thereto.

2. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed of soft resilient material and provided in an outer surface portion thereof with a longitudinal groove having its ends terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, and a brush permanently fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to be applied thereto, said brush comprising an axial wire body and bristles carried thereby, said wire body being arranged wholly radially inwardly of the surface of said roller to prevent its contacting the person of the user.

3. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed of soft resilient material and provided with a longitudinal groove having its ends terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, and a brush fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to be applied thereto, said brush being cemented in said groove and having bristles at least some of which penetrate the material of said roller at the bottom of said groove to assist in adhering said brush to said roller.

4. A hair curling device comprising a'roller formed of soft resilient material and provided with a longitudinal groove having its end-s terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, and a brush fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to be applied thereto, said brush comprising an axial wire body and bristles carried thereby, said wire body being arranged wholly radially inwardly of the surface of said roller to prevent its contacting the person of the user, at least some of said bristles in the bottom of said groove penetrating the material of said roller to assist in the adhesion of said brush to said roller.

5. A curling device comprising a soft, spongy resilient roller having a longitudinal groove in the surface thereof, the ends of which groove terminate in spaced relation to the ends of said roller, and a brush arranged in said groove, said brush comprising a spirally twisted axial wire body and spirally arranged bristles gripped between the wires of said body, said bristles projecting slightly beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hairto be wound on said roller, said wire body' lying wholly radially inwardly of the surface of said roller and having its ends abutting the ends of said groove, said brush being secured to said roller by adhesive.

6. A curling device comprising a soft, spongy, resilient roller having a longitudinal groove in the surface thereof, the ends of which groove terminate in spaced relation to the ends of said roller, and a brush arranged in said groove, said brush comprising a spirally twisted axial body and spirally arranged bristles gripped between the wires of said body, said bristles projecting slightly beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair to be wound on said roller, said wire body lying wholly radially inwardly of the surface of said roller and having its ends abutting the ends of said groove, said brush being fixed to said roller by adhesive between the bottom of said groove and said bristles, said bristles in the bottom 'of said groove penetrating the material of said roller to assist in the adhesion of said brush to said roller.

7. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed of soft resilient material and provided with a longitudinal groove having its ends terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, a brush fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to be applied thereto, said roller being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a rod projecting loosely through said opening so as to be rotatable therein, and a generally rectangular bail having longitudinal side arms spaced from said roller and cross members at its ends, one of which is pivotally connected to one end of said rod, and the other of which is detachably engageable with the other end of said rod.

8. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed of soft resilient material and provided with a longitudinal groove having its ends terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the roller, a brush fixed in said groove and having bristles extending beyond the surface of said roller to engage a strand of hair when the roller is to 20 be applied thereto, said brush comprising an axial Wire body and bristles carried thereby, said wire body being arranged Wholly radially inwardly of the surface of said roller to prevent its contacting the person of the user,

said roller being provided with an axial opening therethrough, a rod projecting loosely through said opening so as to be rotatable therein, and a generally rectangular bail having longitudinal side arms spaced from said roller and cross members at its ends, one of which is detachably engageable with the other end of said rod.

9. A hair curling device comprising a roller formed Wholly of soft resilient material and provided with a longitudinal groove of substantially semicircular crosssection in its surface extending throughout the greater portion of the length of said roller, and a substantially cylindrical brush fitting and arranged in said groove and provided with bristles extending radially relative to said brush, at least some of the bristles in the bottom of said groove being fixed to said roller by an adhesive.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,385 Johnson July 28, 1908 2,135,612 Bowyer Nov. 8, 1938 2,937,649 Gresham et al. May 24, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,250,668 France Dec. 5, 1960 

1. A HAIR CURLING DEVICE COMPRISING A ROLLER FORMED OF SOFT RESILIENT MATERIAL AND PROVIDED IN AN OUTER SURFACE PORTION THEREOF WITH A LONGITUDINAL GROOVE HAVING ITS ENDS TERMINATING IN SPACED RELATION TO THE ENDS OF THE ROLLER, AND A BRUSH PERMANENTLY FIXED IN SAID GROOVE AND HAVING BRISTLES EXTENDING BEYOND THE SURFACE OF SAID ROLLER TO ENGAGE A STRAND OF HAIR WHEN THE ROLLER IS TO BE APPLIED THERETO. 